BUTTERFLIES OF THE RHONE VALLEY. 289 



My smallest specimens come from desert ravines near Hehvan and from 

 dry sandhills near Abukir on the Egyptian coast. Tutt has recorded the 

 fact that species of Plebeiids which are single-brooded in some localities 

 and double- or triple-brooded in others are often larger in the former (of. 

 F. icanis, Brit. Butts. ,i\\, p. 128). This he ascribes to the longer feeding- 

 period in the former case. Pari passu this should apply in the case 

 of b/siiiion during seasons when the larva feeds up more slowly. 

 However, this is only a theory on my part which I do not wish to press, 

 especially if examination of the genitalia suggests that the Egyptian 

 summer b/siiiu)n, the British Museum t/alba, and Seitz's (/alba, are 

 really distinct from the true hjsiunm, Hb. But whatever they are, 

 they cannot be identified with Lederer's or Kollar's i/alha. The above 

 description rules that out. Moore in his llhopalocera Indica, gives tialba 

 as a synonym for li/simon, ])evhAps rightly if we are to follow Elwes 

 and Seitz, but certainly wrongly if we are to go by Lederer's original 

 description. 



The conclusion, therefore, is that whatever the insects in the British 

 Museum Coll. are, they are not the (/alba of Lederer, whose description 

 and figure of the butterfly (Plate 2, sec. Led. Plate 1, in my copy of the 

 Beitra;/), show an insect that bears a much greater resemblance in 

 certain important particulars to CJiilades trochilus than to Zizera 

 li/siiiio)i. Miss Fountaine {Entoiiiolmiist, xxxv., 467, p. 98), says that 

 she took (lalba at the same time and in the same localities as Castalius 

 jesnus (i/aiiira), i.e., above the Sea of Galilee during the last days of 

 June, and on the plain of -Jenin on July 3rd. It would be most 

 interesting to know whether her (/alba correspond with Lederer's 

 description. 



Early Summer amongst the Butterflies of the Rhone Valley. 



By JOHN ALDEKSON. 



{Conditdcd from p. 261.) 

 There was a distinct improvement in the weather the following 

 day, June 17th, for the sun shone brightly from a sky which remained 

 of a clear summer blue from morning till night. Taking the train to 

 Susten I walked through the meadows fringing the Pfynwald up to 

 the entrance of Illgraben. In the meadows I found butterflies on the 

 wing in good number and variety. In point of numbers the fritillaries 

 took the first place, and the larger Argynnids dashing wildly every- 

 where, imparted no small amount of animation to the scene. Of these, 

 Ar(/!/ii)iis a(/laia was the most common, with A. adip/ie and A. niube 

 and var. eris in fewer numbers. Mclitaca didijiiia was very common, 

 the majority of the specimens showing signs of wear. Towards 

 Illgraben .1/. aurinia became equally common, but its condition was 

 quite hopeless. Amongst the other fritillaries were Melitaca phnebe, 

 M. at/ialia, Brentlds dia, and li. cuphromjne, the last being very 

 ragged. J/, aurelia also occurred here, but not in any numbers. 

 The " blues" were in abundance, the greater number being Af/riades 

 tht'tis, which was getting worn but fiying everywhere and sipping at 

 the blossoms of red clover. Plcbeius an/us {acijon) was also plentiful 

 and in good condition, the form being the usual one met with 

 throughout the lower parts of the Rhone Valley. Poh/owinatus icarus 

 was equally as common, as was also (Jyaniris seiiiiar(/Hs, which was in 



